Freezing tray



Nov. 22, 1955 A. cs. JANOS ETAL 2,724,244

FREEZING TRAY Filed Aug. 9, 1352 Figi 5 Inventovs: Al'Fw-ed G. Janos, Edward H. Roberts,

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most present day refrigerators. usually include a grid for dividing the tray into a plurality 2,724,244 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 United States Patent Ofiice FREEZING TRAY Application August 9, 1952, Serial No. 303,516 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-108.5)

This invention relates to freezing trays and more particularly to grids for use in freezing trays.

Freezing trays for ice blocks are supplied for use with These freezing trays of ice block compartments and they usually involve a central longitudinal divider and a plurality of spaced transverse dividers for this purpose. The trays are of a more or less standard size, and for some purposes the ice blocks secured with the above-described structure are too large. For example, it is sometimes desirable to use ice blocks in vacuum bottles and the like which have a small neck, and it is then necessary to crackthe ice blocks so that they may be inserted through the small opening. By this invention a grid structure is provided by which smaller ice blocks suitable for insertion into small-necked receptacles is provided, and in addition, by this invention the grid may be so constructed that larger or smaller ice blocks may be selectively secured.

It is an object of this invention to provide a freezing tray including an improved grid arrangement for securing ice blocks of reduced size.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved grid arrangement for selectively securing ice blocks of difierent sizes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an im proved grid assembly arrangement for securing ice blocks of small size and for facilitating retention and removal of these ice blocks.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and-the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

jln carrying out the objects of this invention inclined slots are provided in each of the transverse dividers spaced from the central longitudinal divider on one or both sides thereof to subdivide the ice block compartments. These inclined dividers may be slidably and rernovably received within the aligned inclined slots in the transverse dividers or the ends thereof beyond the end transverse dividers may be bent and deformed to retain the inclined dividers permanently in the grid assembly.

For a better understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a plan view of a freezing tray incorporating an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in the ice block releasing position; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line 44 in Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a freezing tray showing a modified form of this invention.

Referring to the Figs. 1-4 there is shown a freezing tray 1 having a grid assembly 2 therein. The grid assembly includes a central longitudinal divider 3 extending the length of the tray and a plurality of transverse dividers 4 assembled thereon for dividing the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments 5.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 the longitudinal divider 3 includes a lower section 6 extending the length of the tray and an upper section 7 vertically aligned with the lower section 6. The upper section 7 includes a plurality of links 8. The transverse dividers 4 are normally in the inclined position shown in Fig. 2 and each transverse divider is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 9 on the corresponding link 8 during the ice releasing operation for moving the transverse dividers to the vertical position shown in Fig. 3. In order to eifect movement of the links 8 and change in the position of the dividers 4, a handle 10 is provided. The handle 10 is pivotally connected to the lower section 6 at 11 and is connected to the end one of the links 8 by a pin 12 received in an elongated slot 13. Movement of the handle from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 effects longitudinal movement of the links 8, upward movement thereof, and shifting of the transverse dividers to the positions shown in Fig. 3. This relative movement of the parts of the grid assembly eifects release of the ice blocks. It will be apparent, however, as this description proceeds that other types of central longitudinal dividers and other specific ice releasing actuators could be employed, if deseired.

The transverse dividers 4 are provided with lips 14 at the lower edges thereof for assisting in the ice releasing operation and for retaining the ice blocks within the grid assembly when the grid assembly is removed from the tray. The provision of these lips 14 in the manner described is not part of the present invention but is described and claimed in the copending application of Edward H. Roberts, Serial No. 121,659, filed October 17, 1949, now Patent 2,622,140 and asigned to the General Electric Company, the assignee of the present invention.

Since it has become more or less standard to provide freezing trays with a capacity of about two pounds of ice, a freezing tray constructed in the manner thus far described provides ice blocks of substantial size because of the necessary size of the ice block compartments. As has been mentioned above, for some purposes ice blocks of substantially smaller size may be desired, and, in accordance with this invention, provision is made for securing ice blocks of reduced size.

In the embodiment illustrated, each of the transverse dividers 4 includes a central slot 15 for receiving the central longitudinal divider 3. The slots 15 are, of course, aligned longitudinally for receiving this divideri In accordance with this invention, each of the transverse dividers 4 is further provided with two in: clined slots 16 and 17. The slot 16 is positioned laterally of the central slot 15 and, of course, of the central longitudinal divider 3, and approximately midway between the central slot and the corresponding end 18 of the transverse divider. Similarly, the other inclined slot 17 is disposed laterally from the opposite side or the central slot 15 and the longitudinal divider 3 in the assembled position of the central divider and approximately midway between the slot 15 and the opposite end 19 of the transverse divider 4. The slots 16 of the transverse dividers 4 are all aligned longitudinally of the tray, and the slots 17 are similarly all aligned longitudinally of the tray. In order to subdivide the ice block compartments into a plurality of smaller compartments inclined longitudinal dividers 20 and 21 are inserted in the aligned inclined slots 16 and 17, respectively, of the transverse dividers. By this arrangement the ice block compartments are reduced to about half the original size, providing a larger number of ice blocks form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4, the ends 22 of the inclined longitudinal dividers 20 and 21 are bent outwardly. This bending of' the ends of the inclined dividers assists in retaining: these dividers in position within the grid assembly, since they are loosely received within the aligned slots 16 and 17. Further, the outward flaring of the ends 22" facilitates removal of ice blocks't'rorn the central end compartments 23, particularly at the righthand end of the tray as illustrated, because of the obstruction provided by the handie and. the pins of the handle assembly.

To further assist in maintaining the inclined dividers 20 and 21 positioned in the grid assembly, the lower edges of the inclined dividers are deformed'or staked, as indicated at 24, adjacent the end ones oftransverse dividers 4; a

The slots 16 and17 and hence the dividers 20 and 21 areinclined outwardly toward the top edge thereof providing central compartments-25 which are flared toward. the top. By this construction the removal of the ice bl'oclis from the central compartments is facilitated since, after release from the grid assembly by the action of the handle as described above, the central ice bloclrsmay be pushed upwardly for removal by pressing on the bottom of the ice blocks. In addition, this particular inclination of the slots 16 and 17 and hence of the inclined dlViClBIS'ZWaHd-ZI assists in re-' taining the ice blocks-within the central compartments 25 after the grid has been removed from the tray. As described in the aforementioned Roberts application, Serial No. 121,659, the lips 14 provide for'retention ofthe ice blocks after release thereof'by the handle and after removal of the grid' assembly from the tray by lifting it therefrom by the handle. The same action, of course, is present in the grid assemblydisclosed in the present application. However, by useof' the inclined longitudinal dividers 20 and 21 the portions of the lip 14 between the two inclined dividers and the central longitudinal divider 3, as indicated at 26', may be omitted, and the ice blocks are therrreta'ined entirely by virtue of the inclined dividers 20"and 21 and' the flared or tapered shape of the ice block-resulting therefrom.-

Although in the embodiment described above, two inclined longitudinal dividers 20-and 21 are employed so that all of the ice blocks are of reduced size, it will be apparent that, if desired, only one of these inclined dividers may be used so that" acombi'nati'on of large and small ice blocks is securedwi'tlr a'sing'le grid assembly.

In the embodiment described above, the ends 22 of the inclined dividers 20 and 21' are bent'outwardly and in addition the inclined dividers are deformed as indicated at 24 so that the inclined dividers are permanently retained within the grid assembly. In some cases it is desirable to provide a grid assembly inwhich the inclined longitudinal dividers are slidably and removably received within the inclined slots 16 and 17 of the transverse dividers so that the user may selectively secure large or small ice blocks or a combination of both as he desires. A modified form of this invention for this purpose is shown in Fig. 5. In this form, the inclined dividers, one of which is shown at 27, are made entirely straight and of a uniform width or height substantially equal to the length of the slots 16 and 17, and the deformations 24 of the form shown in Figs. 1-4 are omitted. Therefore, according to the desire of the user, one or both of the inclined dividers may be added to or removed from the grid assembly merely by sliding from one end or the other of the grid assembly. The inclined dividers in this type of structure are, of course, held in position in the grid assembly during use 'by engagement with' the ends 28 of the freezing tray 1.

While specific embodiments" ofthis invention have been shown and described, it is not desired that the invention be limited to the particular construction shown and described and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a freezing tray, a grid assembly comprising a central longitudinal divider, a plurality of transverse dividers pivotally assembled on and interlocked with said longitudinal divider to provide a plurality of ice block compartments, each of said transverse dividers including a central slot for receiving said longitudinal divider, said transverse dividers being mounted on said longitudinal divider for pivoting movement relative thereto, means including a handle pivotally mounted only on said longitudinal divider for eifecting relative movement of said transverse and longitudinal dividers, each of said transverse dividers further including afirst inclined'slot disposed laterally between said central slot and orie end of the transverse divider and a second inclined slot disposed laterally between said central slot and the opposite end of the transverse divider, and two inclined longitudinal dividers of a uniform height substantially equal to the length of said inclined slots, one of said inclined dividers being loosely and slidably received in aligned first slots of said transverse dividers for subdividing a portion of said ice block compartments, and the other inclined divider being loosely and slidably received in aligned second slots of said transverse dividers for subdividing the remaining ice block compartments.

2. In a freezing tray, a grid assembly comprising acentral longitudinal divider, a plurality of transverse dividers assembled on saidlongitudinal divider to provide a plurality of ice block compartments, each of said transverse dividers including a central slot for receiving said longitudinal divider, each of" said transverse dividers further including a first inclined slot disposed laterally between said central slot and one end of the transverse divider and a second inclined slot disposed laterally between said central slot and the opposite endof the transverse divider, and two inclined longitudinal dividers of a uniform height substantially equal to the length of said inclined slots, one of said inclined dividers being slidably and removably received in aligned first slots of said transverse dividers for subdividing a portion of said ice block compartments, and the other inclined divider'being slidably and remov'ably received in aligned second slots'of said'tr'ansve'rse dividers for subdividing the remaining" ice block compartments.

3. In a freezing tray, a grid assembly comprising a central longitudinal divider, a plurality of transverse dividers assembled on said longitudinal divider and interlocked therewith to provide a plurality of ice block compartments, each of said transverse dividers including a central slot for receiving said longitudinal divider, said transverse dividers being mounted on said longitudinal divider for pivoting movement relative thereto, means including a handle pivotally mounted only on saidlon'gitudinal divider for eflfecting relative movement of said transverse and longitudinal dividers for removal of ice blocks from said assembly, each of said transverse dividers further including a first inclined slot disposed laterally between said central slot and one end of the transverse divider and a second inclined slot disposed laterally between said central slot and the opposite end of the transverse divider, and two inclined longitudinal dividers of a uniform height substantially equal to the length of said incline-d slots, one of said inclined dividers being received in aligned first slots of said transverse dividers for subdividing a portion of said ice block compartments, and the other inclined divider being received in aligned second slots of said transverse dividers for subdividing the remaining, ice block compartments,

each of said transverse dividers including a lip on the i lower edge thereof, said lip including one portion extending from said one of said inclined dividers to one end of the transverse divider and a second portion extending from said other inclined divider to the opposite end of the transverse divider.

4. In a freezing tray, a grid assembly comprising a central longitudinal divider, a plurality of transverse dividers assembled on said longitudinal divider to provide a plurality of ice block compartments, each of said transverse dividers including a central slot for receiving said longitudinal divider, each of said transverse dividers further including a first inclined slot disposed laterally between said central slot and one end of the transverse divider and a second inclined slot disposed laterally between said central slot and the opposite end of the transverse divider, a handle engaging said longitudinal divider at one end thereof for effecting release of ice blocks by relative movement of said transverse and longitudinal dividers, and two inclined longitudinal dividers of a height substantially equal to the length of said inclined slots, one of said inclined dividers being loosely received in aligned first slots of said transverse dividers for subdividing a portion of said ice block compartments, and the other inclined divider being loosely received in aligned second slots of said transverse dividers for subdividing the remaining ice block compartments, each end of each of said inclined dividers being bent laterally outward to retain said dividers in position in said assembly and to facilitate release of the central ice blocks at the handle end of said grid assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

